Simulated candle



April 1958 N. H. A. RODMAN 2,831,331

SIMULATED CANDLE Filed NOV. 14, 1955 I5 I FIG. 2

I g 294 v I INVENTOR- /& ATTORNEY United States Patent SIMULATED CANDLE Norman H. A. Rodman, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Rodorn, Inc.,- New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,419 1 Claim. (Cl. 67-55) This invention relates to artificial candles and, more particularly, to an improved artificial candle construction including a novel removable fuel reservoir arrangement and novel means for adapting the candle base to candle holders of different dimensions.

Artificial candles generally include a candle simulating casing or housing containing reservoir means for a liquid fuel for feeding a wick projecting through the tip of the candle. The artificial candle includes a base section arranged to fit a candle holder in the same manner as does a natural wax candle.

Artificial candles as hitherto constructed have not had a wide sales appeal or even fair commercial success. The reasons for this have included complicated constructions increasing the cost and thus the sales price; inadaptability to different sized candle holders; intricate fuel refilling arrangements; and even constructions unsafe from fire hazard.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing difiiculties are avoided by an artificial candle construction including a candle simulating exterior casing of plastic composition having an open bottom end and a top end closed except for a tip opening for allowing a metal wickholder to project therethrough. This wick-holder com prises a relatively elongated extension of a metal cap having tight sealing fit in the upper end of an elongated metal fuel reservoir removably mounted within the casing.

The closed bottom end of the reservoir has a reduced diameter cylindrical seat projecting therefrom to receive one end of a coil spring, the opposite end of which em braces a reduced diameter cylindrical seat on the upper end of a plastic composition plug closing the lower end of the casing and merging smoothly with the outer surface of the casing. The plug has a tubular extension on its bottom surface concentric with a small central projection. The extension is longitudinally slotted to receive the spring arms of a spring metal spider seated in the recess and having an aperture in its base to grip the central projection.

The bent spring arms of the spider, having portions extending through the slots and beyond the outer surface of the extension provide compressible friction means engaging the inner surfaces of various size candle holders whereby the candle may be securely set into any one of several dixerent sizes of candle holders.

The removable metal reservoir and wick support allow easy and ready re-fueling of the candle as well as protecting the casing from the heat of the candle flame. The entire construction is inexpensive, easily assembled, and safe in operation.

For an understanding of the invention principle, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of the candle as mounted in a candle holder; and I Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of the candle.

Referring to the drawings, candle simulating casing 15 of plastic composition material, which may be smooth surfaced or suitably contoured or figured, as desired, as well as being of any selected color, or white. Casing 15 is generally elongated and cylindrical tapering somewhat from its open lower end to its tip which has a small central opening 16.

The opening 16 allows upward projection therethrough of a metal wick tube 21 forming part of a metal wickholder forming a closure 25 for a fuel reservoir 20 removably supported in casing 15. Cap 25 has a tubular frusto-conical portion 22 joining the projecting part of tube 21 to a tubular cylindrical portion 23. A flange 24 seats on the upper end of metal reservoir 20 and has a tubular plug 26 projecting therefrom for tight pressfitting in the open end of the reservoir. Plug 26 has a flared entrance 27 for easy threading of a wick 28 through cap 25 to project from the upper end of wick-holder 21.

The closed lower end of reservoir 20 has a cylindrical spring seat 29, of reduced diameter, projecting therefrom. Seat 29 is embraced by the upper end coils of a spring 40 whose lower end coils embrace a similar spring seat 31 on the inner end of a plastic composition material plug 30 closing the lower end of casing 15.

Plug 30 includes a plug portion 32 having a tight friction fit in casing 15, a flange 33 seating against the lower end of the casing and merging smoothly with the outer surface of the latter, and a tubular extension 34 on its bottom surface.

Extension 34 has circumferentially spaced slots 36, preferably four in number and equally spaced around the extension. Slots 36 receive the bowed spring arms 37 of a metal spider 35. The base of aperture tightly fitting a small central button on the plug 30 to hold spider 35 assembled in extension 34. It will be noted that the bowed portions of arms 37 extend through slots 36 beyond the outer surface of extension.

To use the candle, plug 30 is removed carrying reservoir 26 with it. Cap 25 can then be removed, to fill the reservoir with fuel, and replaced. Reservoir 20is then reinserted in casing 15 with tube 21 projecting beyond the casing tip through hole 16. When plug 30 is re-inserted, spring 40 pushes reservoir 20 up until flange 24 engages the casing. The candle is inserted in a holder 11 with spring arms 37 providing a frictional fit if the opening is larger than extension 34.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principle, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principle.

What is claimed is:

An artificial candle comprising, in combination, an elongated upwardly tapered candle simulating casing having an open base end and a small central aperture in its tip end; a metal fuel reservoir removably mounted in said casing and having a filling opening in its upper end, and a closed lower end; a wick holder including a pressfit plug removably closing said filling opening and having a wick tube extending from its upper end for projection through said aperture, said press-fit plug having a lateral Patented Apr. 22, s

candle 10 includes an outer,

spider 35 has a central extent such as to engage the tapered inner surface of said casing, when said reservoir is inserted into said casing, at a distance below the tip end of said casing such that the upper end of said wick-holder is below the tip end of said casing; said wick-holder having a flared opening leading to said wick tube for easy threading of a wick into and through said Wick tube; a closure plug having a boss on its upper surface tightly fitting within the open base end o f said casing, a flange engaging the lower end of said casing, and a candle holder fitting protuberance entending downwardly from said flange; and a coil spring having seating engagement on and extending between said closure plug and said reservoir to bias said reservoir upwardly in said casing with said wick tube projecting through and beyond said aperture when said closure plug is insrted in the lower end of said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,755 Green Sept. 1, 1896 814,636 Baumer Mar. 6, 1906 1,583,798 Rosenberg May 11, 1926 2,469,163 Gilmore May 3, l949 2,512,885 Archambeau June 27, 1950 

